Elago Shipanga
OTJIWARONGO - In an inspiring tale of determination and resilience, a young female pilot has taken flight in pursuit of her dreams, inspired by the indomitable spirit of pilots who delivered much-needed relief items during a devastating flood in her region.
Meet Ndapewa Fabianus, a 25-year-old woman from Okalonda village in the Omusati region, where she spent her formative years, a region susceptible to flooding as it forms part of the Cuvelai Basin. She never dreamed of becoming a pilot.
Fabianus recalls, "In 2010 we experienced heavy flooding. I watched as our village struggled to access the most basic of necessities; we were completely cut off from accessing health facilities, schools and town centres to buy necessities. But there was one glimmer of hope - the pilots who came to our aid during those trying times."
These pilots from the Namibian Air Force were part of a humanitarian task force, tasked with flying in relief supplies, including water, food, and medical aid to hard-to-reach areas due to flooding. Their selflessness and the vital role they played in mitigating the effects of the flood left an indelible mark on Fabianus' heart. It was during one of these relief missions that she resolved to conquer the skies herself. Fabianus’ journey from her humble beginnings to becoming a pilot is nothing short of remarkable. Coming from a previously disadvantaged community with limited financial resources, funding her tertiary education was an enormous challenge. However, her unwavering determination and the memory of those humanitarian pilots kept her focused and applied to the Namibia Students Financial Assistant Fund and was granted funds to assist her in pursuing her study in 2019 and achieving her dream of becoming an aviator.
Her hard work and determination paid off when she earned a Private Pilot's licence. Fabianus now flies for the Namibia Aviation Training Academy and is currently busy with her Commercial Pilot licence.
Fabianus said she relishes the challenge of breaking through in the male-dominated industry. She has not forgotten her chance encounter with the male-only pilot crew that initially spurred her to become a pilot and is actively participating and using her experience to encourage many Namibian girls to forge careers in the aviation industry.
"I am immensely grateful for the inspiration I found during those dark times and I am proud to be one of a few female pilots in the country. Now, I want to be that source of inspiration for other Namibian girls. Currently, at our academy, only a few of the students are female; we need more female pilots so we need to do more to encourage and attract young Namibian girls in the industry. I want to fly hope and aid to those in need, just like the heroes who came to our rescue." In a world often filled with adversity, Fabianus stands as a shining example of how hardship can propel one's dreams and the profound impact people can have on their community.
* Elago Shipanga is an information officer for the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Otjozondjupa region.